The Indians acquired Wallace from the Astros in exchange for Eric Berger last week in a fairly minor deal that gave the Tribe the catching depth that they were looking for. He’s nothing too special going forward offensively or defensively, but he does provide Akron with a veteran presence off the bench. Since joining the Indians organization, the big catcher has gone 7-for-16, with 5 runs, a double and four RBI, and is hitting .438 on the season. This isn’t a breakout for the former 16th round pick of the Houston Astros.

House has really started to get things going over the past two starts, and seems to be ready to make the jump to Columbus after playing well in both the Carolina and Eastern Leagues. He’s gone 11 2/3 innings during his recent stretch of outstanding pitching, giving up only eight hits and two earned runs, while walking one and striking out 18. For the year, House has 27 K’s against only three walks, and has three solid starts, against only one bad one. The lefty is only 23, and could be ready to knock on the door of the Indians at the beginning of 2014…if he makes the next jump.

Joey Wendle took the night off, and Jerrud Sabourin took the opportunity to take a run at the league batting title lead with his perfect Sunday afternoon at the plate. His three hits took his average back up over .400, and his .415 is now second in the league to Wendle, who’s hitting .426 on the year so far. The two Mudcats are the only players in the league hitting over .400. No, Sabourin isn’t a guy that’s going to hit .400 on the year, but after his near .300 season last year, this start shouldn’t come as much of a surprise.

Lou Marson: DH, Columbus: 1-for-3, 1 BB: Marson is hitting a whopping .125 with Columbus in his rehab assignment, and should be returning to the Indians within the next few days. Yan Gomes belted a homer and a triple today, which will make Marson coming back an interesting scenario for the Indians. Perhaps Gomes will stay on as a utility player.

Cord Phelps: 2B, Columbus: 2-for-4: Phelps belted a couple of hits in his first game after returning from the Indians. If he’d have hit this aggressively with the Indians, he woudn’t have been sent down to begin with.

Giovanni Soto: SP, Columbus: L (0-1), 1 1/3, 2 H, 1 R/ER, 1 BB, 1 K: No, Soto isn’t being returned to the rotation, even though it’s what I’d prefer the Indians do. Soto did get the start, but the Clippers were filling a hole in the rotation with relievers today…nothing more…and nothing less.

Rob Bryson: RP, Columbus: 1 2/3 IP, 1 BB, 3 K: Bryson hadn’t pitched since the 14th after giving up a run. His numbers are still solid, but he still can’t find the multi-game consistency he needs to be relevant at the next level.

Tyler Holt: CF, Akron: 2-for-5, 1 R, 1 K: Holt’s average over the past three seasons has hovered right around .250, but his bread and butter isn’t average, it’s getting on base. There, he’s been right around .350, which is a plus.

Jesus Aguilar: 1B, Akron: 2-for-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 RB, 1 K, CS: The big first baseman has hits in eight of his last ten games, and has multi-hits in three of the past four ballgames. He’s gone 6-for-15 over that stretch, with a run, two doubles and nine RBI.

Ronny Rodriguez: SS, Akron: 2-for-4, 2 RBI, 1 K, 1 CS: Rodriguez has 10 RBI so far on the season, and has warmed up the bat over the past few days, going 6-for-12 over the past three ballgames, but he’s really struggled getting on base. His OBP on the season sits at .262, and he’s struck out 14 times on the season early on, with only one walk.

Giovanny Urshela: 3B, Akron: 2-for-4, 1 RBI, 1 E: Urshela has now hit safely in seven straight games, and has really started to hit the ball well during that stretch, going 12-for-31, with three runs, four doubles, a homer and seven RBI during the stretch.

Bryan Price: RP, Akron: S (1), 2 IP, 1 H, 1 K: Price made his debut with the Aeros in 2013, going two innings in support of T.J. House, and was nearly perfect in getting his first save of the season.

Charlie Valerio: C, Carolina: 2-for-4, 2 R, 12B, 1 3B, 1 RBI: Valerio had his most productive game of 2013, with two extra base hits. He has five on the season, and hit his first triple of the year.

Enosil Tejeda: RP, Carolina: 1 2/3 IP, 2 BB, 4 K: Tejeda is one of the most unassuming pitchers in the system. He’s not going to overpower you, and in a system full of flame-throwing relievers, his arm doesn’t really stand out, but his results do. In 6 2/3 innings this year, he’s given up two earned runs, five hits and four walks, while striking out 12.

Dylan Baker: L (0-2), 6 IP, 7 H, 2 R/0 ER, 6 K: Baker was the hard luck loser, throwing a shortened complete game. He gave up his first run after a Dorsyss Paulino error, and his second on an two base blunder by third baseman Erik Gonzalez. Offensively, the Captains only gave him one hit, and five walks of support.

Jake Sisco: L (0-2), 6 1/3 IP, 5 H, 1 R/ER, 5 K: Like Baker, Sisco was the hard-luck loser in the second game of a doubleheader, and continued a solid season with his third good start in a row. He’s gone 15 2/3 innings on the year, giving up only 11 hits and three earned runs, while striking out ten. He has a 1.72 ERA, but hasn’t managed a win as of yet.

User Comments

shy

April 22, 2013 - 2:37 PM EDT

Tony is on to something w House's command. Whether you're opening a shop or pitching a ballgame, it's location, location, location. He's a big strong lefty, throws plenty hard, what will separate him is the ability to find the weak spots and hit them. Good looking starts showing up throughout the Tribe org. past week. Bauer, Carrasco, Salazar, House, Baker, and Sisco. This bodes well.......

Matthew

April 22, 2013 - 1:09 PM EDT

I am also thrilled to see these numbers from House, but you have to take it with a grain of salt. Hope it truly is an increase in his command and location. If he can keep it up, it'll be exciting.

Andy

April 22, 2013 - 12:59 PM EDT

Maybe Kluber's callup as a fill-in for Myers and potentially losing Nieve to waivers will provide an open rotation spot for House in Columbus. Hopefully having Barnes, House, and Soto as viable ML bullpen options will allow one of them to stay in the rotation next year.

Any idea who would take House's spot in Akron? I'm guessing Adams will stay in a relief role this season to monitor his workload as he comes back from shoulder surgery.

Tony

April 22, 2013 - 11:18 AM EDT

House has been sensational so far, and it is great to see how he is pitching. I believe he has put himself in line for a promotion to Columbus as soon as a spot opens there and the Indians believe he is ready for the challenge there. That said, he has not suddenly developed an out pitch. He has the same stuff as in the past, he is just more consistently around the zone and locating better. Sometimes good location is just as effective to get strikeouts as a blazing fastball or wipeout slider.

Billy Lybarger

April 22, 2013 - 10:57 AM EDT

It is good to hear a new tune toward TJ House. A little less than two weeks this site proclaimed he had no true out pitch. This week his K/9 ratio is 10.88, while maintaining a 9.00 K/BB. Seeing how his career K/9 is 7.11 it would seem he can get the punch outs. It was reported his fastball velocity has been steadily increasing over the past two season, maybe this increase is the reason we see the spike in his numbers so far. It would be great to see his success continue, and get a chance to move up to Colombus to test himself there.

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